UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 6

1^st (1) Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza WRC) 13.10.8

2^nd (2) Eugene Donnelly/Andrew Mullan (Corolla WRC)  13.17.1

3^rd (3) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 13.20.6

4^th (11) Glenn Allen/Kieran McCracken (Corolla WRC) 13.22.6

5^th (8) Paul Bird/Andy Richardson (Focus WRC) 13.33.6

6^th (5) Niall McShea/Willie McKee (Cordoba WRC) 13.43.1

7^th (10) Maurice Gass/Andrew Cullen (Fabia WRC) 13.43.4

8^th (25) Garry Jennings/Pamela Ballantine (Lancer N) 13.56.8

9^th (6) Denis Biggerstaff/Robin McCandless (6R4) 13.58.6

10^th (12) James Gillen/Rodney Johnston (Impreza A) 13.58.6

Eugene Donnelly was fastest through stage 6 to make it his 2^nd fastest time of the rally, this time by a second and a half over Kevin Lynch with Kenny McKinstry a couple of seconds slower. Kevin Lynch still leads, the gap down now to 6.3 seconds with 2 stages remaining.  Eugene was delighted to put some fresh air between himself and McKinstry and said there is little or no chance of catching Kevin.  Having said that Eugene is going to fit a couple of new tyres and knowing the way his mind works he will give it a real good go through stage 7 just to see what happens.  You never know, at the speed that the top guys are going anything could happen.

Glenn Allen in 4^th was equal with McKinstry though that 6^th stage, Glenn happy enough with the way he’s going, but doesn’t want to try anything too heroic as he is going to head down overnight to compete on the Birr Forestry Rally, penultimate round of the Irish Forestry series.  Paul Bird says he once again made a small mistake through the trees. Niall McShea had a clean run to hold 6^th.  Maurice Gass was just a fraction quicker than McShea and creeps inexorably up the leaderboard in his dinky little Fabia.

Other stories from the leaderboard include Scottish visitor Neale Dougan getting back on the pace after his earlier big spin and fright and also losing the feeling of the car thinking the front differential was going.  Whenever Craig Bennett and then Nigel Hicklin came through the stage the rain, a shower, came on and slowed the following cars progress, although not by a dramatic amount.

In Group N Garry Jennings continues to do the business, increasing his lead in the category, his co driver Pamela Ballantine taking things very seriously indeed. That is until we get to the after rally party….when she will then become Pauline the Party Animal!!!

Michael Curran was a second down on Garry through that stage, Terry McGonigle a couple of seconds as the rain increased in severity.  John McGlaughlin is 3^rd Group N with Martin Elliott, despite his misfiring engine, 4^th.

Camillus Bradley leads the Mk2 Escorts from David james, Alistair Cochrane 3^rd. They all run in class 2 and Rodney White was 2^nd class 2 but had a poor time in stage 6 and has dropped to 4^th in class ahead of Wesley Patterson and then Charlie Donnelly. Barry McKenna was going well in his Escort but he has just an accident, crashed into a tree, thankfully Barry and co driver are unhurt. Stewart Clarke was lying well up in the Escorts but his lovely RS1800 developed a fuel starvation problem and he has plummeted to the bottom of the list. Just 44 cars started, we have lost 2, and Stewart is 42^nd.  He is now giving it lots of sideways lock in full entertainment mode!

More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net